Simpson Strong-Tie News: September 2014
Strong-Frame® Special Moment Frame

San Francisco Issues Soft-Story Retrofit Ordinance

To ensure the structural integrity of soft-story buildings and the safety of inhabitants in the event of an earthquake, the City of San Francisco signed into law its Mandatory Soft Story Retrofit Ordinance. According to the City's website, "This legislation requires the evaluation and retrofit for 'multi-unit soft-story buildings,' defined as: Wood-frame structures, containing five or more residential units, having two or more stories over a 'soft' or 'weak' story, and permitted for construction prior to January 1, 1978."

The ordinance is part of the Earthquake Safety Implementation Program, the City's 30-year plan to reduce many of San Francisco's most dangerous risks in a future earthquake. It is anticipated that more than 3,000 buildings in the city will need to be retrofitted. Building owners were notified in 2013 and needed to complete the City's initial screening form by September 15, 2014.

Simpson Strong-Tie is working closely with the City to educate building owners, engineers, contractors and residents about the mandate and our structural solutions specifically designed for soft-story retrofits, including the Strong-Frame® special moment frame. To learn more, visit strongtie.com/softstory, where you can download our new High-Quality Soft-Story Retrofit Solutions flier and explore an interactive map highlighting structures in San Francisco with potential retrofit needs.

Play the videoAssessing Structural Damage after Napa Earthquake

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck South Napa, California, caused more than 200 injuries and significant structural damage to many homes and businesses, requiring several structures to be red-tagged, making them uninhabitable.

A team of Simpson Strong-Tie engineers visited the area immediately after the earthquake to survey structural damage and provide support with education and resources about building and retrofitting structures to help prevent damage. One business owner told us that retrofitting her building with Simpson Strong-Tie products prior to the quake helped ensure no structural damage and little down time. See the video about her story here.

National Building MuseumDesigning for Disaster Showcases Best Practices

The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. contacted Simpson Strong-Tie about collaborating with them on their latest multimedia exhibit, Designing for Disaster. One of the main objectives of the exhibit is to provide the design community with new solutions and strategies for mitigating disasters such as high winds, earthquakes, floods and wildfires.

In the exhibit's Wind Room, there are three different Simpson Strong-Tie uplift systems on display, including a strap system, an Anchor Tiedown System and a new, innovative screw system to show visitors building techniques to resist high winds. There's also a small-scale replica of Florida International University's "Wall of Wind" hurricane simulator enabling exhibit-goers to test various roof shapes against simulated high winds.

In the Earthquake Room, the Strong Frame® special moment frame is set behind racked walls, giving visitors the opportunity to see what happens in a seismic event and how the frame's Yield-Link™ structural fuses are able to absorb large lateral movements.

The Designing for Disaster exhibit runs until August 2, 2015. For more information, visit nbm.org.

Resources

Workshops

CATALOG:
Strong-Wall® SB Shearwall
C-L-SWSBCAN14

FLIERS:
Connectors for Cold-Formed Steel Curtain-Wall Construction (Replaces F-CF-CWC13)
F-CF-CWC14
Elevated Post Bases Are NOT Created Equal
F-C-EPBCOMP14

SOFTWARE:
CFS Designer
Version 1.2
Weak Story Tool with Simpson Strong-Tie® Strong Frame® Moment Frames
Version 1.5.0.30

CODE REPORTS:
To see all of the newest code reports, click here. You can also view all our code reports by product and by agency.

REVIT® DRAWINGS:
We recently updated a large number of our Revit families.
Visit our Revit Drawings page to download the latest 2D and 3D drawing families.

NORTHWEST:
Anchors Systems with RPS
Oct 7 Boise ID
Overview of Connectors, Anchors, Fasteners & Mis-Installations
Oct 2 Redding CA
Overview of Connectors, Lateral Systems & Fasteners
Oct 7 Boise ID
Weak Story Tool Software Workshop
Oct 22 Oakland CA

SOUTHWEST:
Connector Workshop for Building Officials & Inspectors
Oct 2 Riverside CA
Industrial, Commercial and Infrastructure (Anchoring and Concrete Repair)
Sep 24 Waipahu HI
Oct 16 San Diego CA
Industrial, Commercial and Infrastructure (Anchoring and Concrete Repair)
Nov 6 Riverside CA
Introduction to RPS (Repair, Protect & Strengthen)
Oct 9 N. Las Vegas NV
Simpson Strong-Tie® Prescott Workshop
Oct 7 Prescott Valley AZ

NORTHEAST:
Cold-Formed Steel Workshop for Structural Engineers
Oct 30 Pewaukee WI
Continuous Load Path (Structural): Beyond the Basics of Wood Framing
Sep 24 Taunton MA
Deck and Porch Framing Connection Seminar
Oct 1 Lousiville KY
Oct 7 College Park MD
Nov 5 Roanoke VA
Deck Requirements of the IRC® Overview
Sep 25 Eagan MN
Oct 31 West Des Moines IA
Foundation Design and Connections for Coastal Areas
Sep 24 Stratford CT
Simpson Strong-Tie Strength Design of Post-Installed Anchors Workshop
Oct 1 Portsmouth NH
Oct 22 Rosemont IL

SOUTHEAST:
Commercial Construction (Software, Connections, Anchorage, & Specifications)
Oct 8 Jacksonville FL
Concrete Anchoring, Repair, & Strengthening Workshop
Sep 24 Williamsburg VA
Oct 22 Miami FL
Nov 13 High Point NC
Nov 19 New Orleans LA
Design Criteria Related to Post-Installed Anchor Products
Oct 16 Tampa FL
Nov 6 St. Louis MO
Nov 6 Corpus Christi TX
Residential Design & Construction Using the Florida Building Code
Oct 9 Jacksonville FL

Upcoming Shows and Events

ICC
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Booth 209
September 29-October 5, 2014

BCMC
Charlotte, NC
October 8-10, 2014

Deck Expo
Baltimore, MD, Booth 2221
October 22-24, 2014

ProDealer
San Diego, CA
October 28-30, 2014

Earthquake 2014: Business Preparedness Summit
San Mateo, CA
October 30, 2014

STAFDA
Charlotte, NC
November 10-11, 2014

Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. – 5956 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Pleasanton, CA 94588 – (800) 999-5099